Frequently Asked Questions

 

When do I start my field placement?

For the 2011 academic year, Field I students begin their field placements the week of September19th. Field II students begin the first week of the semester, the week of September 5th. All field students attend field seminar classes the first week of the semester.

Can I use my job for my field placement?

An employment setting may be used as a field placement if all the regular department requirements of agencies and Agency Supervisors are met in the setting and if, for the hours regarded as the field placement time, the student is assigned tasks and supervision different from his/her regular job. Also, the field placement is an educational experience, which requires controlled, limited, and closely monitored assignments. The employment situation creates different expectations and thus makes it difficult to safeguard the student's learning needs. The student is in an agency to learn; and employee is in the agency to work. Not all employment situations will be approved for field placement and approval depends on how clearly the student and agency can describe the learning opportunity and how it is to be monitored and evaluated by the Department. A written application is required. See the Field Manual for more specifics on how to make a request.
If the student has been employed in the agency six months or less, a Field Placement proposal can be filed to show that her/his regular duties meet the requirements for Field I or II. A different supervisor is required. The other requirements above apply, including the written application.

I already work full-time. Can I get a field placement that is nights and weekends?

NO. The reality is that much of what you will learn in your placement will need to happen during "regular working hours". While you may be able to arrange some of your field hours for evenings and weekends, do not count on the majority of your field placement happening during these times.

What is the requirement for Field?

If you have a BSW, you will be required to complete one field placement (Field II) for 480 hours. This may be done 16 hours a week over the course of the academic year (Sept-May) or as a "Summer Block" placement 40 hours a week over 12 weeks. If you do not have a BSW, you are required to complete two separate field placements. Field I is 420 hours and Field II is 480 hours.

Can I get credit for my prior work experience?

NO. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) prohibits this.

What is the difference between Field I and Field II?

Field I is the equivalent of the Field experience that the BSW students received. The focus is on generalist social work practice at the direct, organizational, and community practice levels. This year is also referred to as the foundation year. The learning experiences and content are operationalized in the student’s learning contract. They must prepare the student for the concentration year by including the core interviewing skills and the development and application of the problem-solving model, within the context of systems theory. Case management and individual/family advocacy are appropriate assignments, as well as work on agency committees and community organizing projects.

Field II is the advanced generalist concentration year learning experience. The focus is an advanced generalist social work practice at the direct, organizational, and community practice level. Both 34 credit and second year 51 credit students are required to take Field II. The learning experiences must be of a stair-step nature. It is not satisfactory to just repeat the learning experiences of the foundation year. To reflect the advanced generalist model, the Field II placement focus is on advanced practice with individuals, families, organizations and communities. This is consistent with the Department’s goal of producing students with a well-rounded repertoire of practice skills for use at all three system levels.

How do I find a field placement?

You should contact the Field Director. There are hard copies of all approved Field agency applications in 3-ring notebooks in the Department of Social Work, 220 Bohannon Hall. We have over 200 agencies that have been approved to have MSW field students. While not all of them accept students every year, many provide excellent opportunities for students. Information regarding placements approved for those receiving a child welfare scholarship are here.

How does an agency get "approved" to have an MSW field student?

Policies pertaining to the approval of field agencies can be found in the Field Manual. All agencies must submit an application, including the resume of an MSW-level practitioner with 2 years of post-MSW practice experience who would provide supervision to a field student. All applications are evaluated by the field coordinator to determine if an agency would provide appropriate activities for an MSW student.

How do I complete/update my field placement agency application?

1) Find your placement on the field website and click on the name of your agency to view their agency information.

2) Once you have opened your specific site information, look to see if the bolded name of your agency is a link.

• If your agency name IS a link, great! That’s where the agency application is. Open it and check to see if the information on the application is current and correct. If it is and the date is the only thing that needs to be changed, send an email to Kathy Heltzer at kheltzer@d.umn.edu and let her know. She will go in and change the date. If there are other changes you need to make, please email Kathy and she will send you a word version of the site application so you can easily type your changes. Email it back to her when finished and she will put it on the web.
  
  
• If your agency name is NOT a link, you will need to download a word doc application from the field forms page. This should be filled out electronically by you and your supervisor. When finished, email it to Kathy Heltzer at khletzer@d.umn.edu and she will get it up on the web! 

Can I do my Final Oral Exam before completing Field II during the summer semester?

Those students needing to complete Field II during the summer will not be eligible to take their Final Oral Exam until they have successfully completed their Field II placement. They will need to submit their Field II ratings on concentration year practice behaviors (also known as the Field II evaluation) as one of their portfolio elements. Only students who have successfully completed all Field II requirements may sit for their Final Oral Exam. Summer Field II students should plan to register for Grad 0999 in order to maintain their active status as a graduate student until they complete their Final Oral Exam.

Other Questions?

Contact Kathy Heltzer, Field Director, at 218-726-8935 or kheltzer@d.umn.edu